Tabuk City, Kalinga – Thirty-two (32) government personnel are now ready to respond in any eventualities that may happen in the province after being equipped with skills in Basic Water Search and Rescue through the three-day training on Water Search and Rescue proposed by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDDRRMO).
The personnel who had their graduation ceremony on Friday, December 3, 2021, are from the Provincial Engineering Office, PDRRMO, and Kalinga Police Provincial Office.
Present during the ceremony were Mr. Brent Martinez as the representative of Governor Ferdinand Tubban, Police Lieutenant Colonel (PLTCOL) Jacob Dangpason from KPPO, along with PDRRM Officer Jolanta Baac.
According to Bureau of Fire Protection Provincial Director Supt. Allan Eballar, who led the trainers, the trainees were first trained on Basic Life Support (BLS) as skills in said area are prerequisites in rescuing victims during disasters.
“Sinurwan mi met lang isudan iti simple BLS ta nu uray nu iahon da diay victim nu kurang met lang iti skills da like daytuy nu kas-anu ti ag-CPR sunga innayun mi diyay ,” the Provincial Fire Director said in an interview with Guru Press Cordillera.
He added that they headed at the Iloba Resort on their second and third day for the trainees’ actual WaSAR training to provide them knowledge and skills in Basic Water Rescue which include the reach, throw, row and go techniques, the different styles and strokes in swimming and the defense and release techniques.
Relevance of the training
According to the PDRRM office headed by Jolanta Baac, the training is in response to any event which needs the application of the necessary skills and trainings on search and rescue operations.
The office added that the training is necessary to be conducted for different sectors of the government concerned with public safety to increase the number of personnel ready to respond when needed.
Further, this is also in compliance with the mandate of RA 10121, which states the proper guidance to respond clusters to become proactive in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and to organize local emergency response teams.
Funding of the WaSAR Training
Realizing the relevance of WaSAR trainings, the PDRRM office provided an amount of P82,800 for the 24 participants from the provincial government of Kalinga, while KPPO Kalinga shouldered the training expense of their 10 personnel who participated in the training.
BFP-Kalinga willing to provide trainings
Meantime, Provincial Fire Director Eballar during the interview said that their office is willing to provide trainings for disaster response provided they are given invitations and have ample time.
"Open naman kami hangga't walang schedule, basta may mag-invite sa atin na agency or any organization, willing naman po ang Bureau of Fire protection under my leadership," Eballar informed.
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